Ron Howard and his wife recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first date

He still has the same 1970 VW Bug he picked her up in!

The Everett Collection

Though Ron Howard had many onscreen love interests as an actor in TV and film, he has had one true love in real life. He married his high school sweetheart, Cheryl, in 1975 after they had been dating for five years.

"I met her, and there was never anybody else," Ron told People Magazine in 2019. "She's unbelievably supportive and always has been."

Ron met Cheryl after he starred on The Andy Griffith Show but before he became Richie Cunningham on Happy Days, though he was still all over TV. They began dating around the time he guest-starred in a two-part Lassie story and appeared in an episode of Andy Griffith's short-lived show Headmaster.

They were both at John Burroughs High School in Burbank, California, at the time. They went on their first date on November 1, 1970. Ron picked her up in his new Volkswagen Beetle and took her to a re-release of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World before capping the night with some pizza.

As noted by People, Ron divulged in an Instagram post how he and Cheryl celebrated the 50th anniversary of their budding romance: They got pizza and bought socks adorned with their significant other's face.

He even revealed that he still has the same VW Bug he bought five decades ago, ending the post with, "It runs great. So do we."

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23 Comments

lweisberg18 40 months ago
A Scene That Never Happened in Andy Griffith Show
In the opening credits of the color episodes when Andy and Opie walk up to the lake
when Opie picks up a rock to throw in the lake Andy was supposed to throw Opie in the
lake and end the credits with Opie making a splash in the water and Andy walks the rest of
the trail by himself at the end of his whistling of course this never happens because
that would make the opening credits too long and it be to much before the cameras filled the
episode for Opie to change his clothes
Corey 40 months ago
Henry Winkler is Ron and Cheryl's daughter Bryce godfather.
DocQuatermass 41 months ago
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpuQXMRFBsd/?utm_source=ig_embed
Hogansucks1 41 months ago
This story help’s me to restore Some of my faith in Humanity’s ways ! TRUE love IS a very rare commodity anymore and hard to find !! One of my favorite quotes/ lines from the movie (Contact)- “Do you love your Father” ? - YES, Very Much ! - PROVE IT !!! —- I would love to buy that VW Bug though 🐞. Many more Ron & Cheryl 🙂
Deb 41 months ago
Enjoyed the article but honestly, couldn't you have found a more flattering photo of Cheryl?
Hogansucks1 Deb 41 months ago
A friendly “Hey”- they look Happy to me, Isnt that what counts. You can still see that in their eyes, looks aren’t everything 😊
kimmer 41 months ago
What a beautiful memory...thank you for sharing!
Congrats!
stephaniestavropoulos 41 months ago
Go to AnimationMagazine.net for all of the info. on what is coming in Jan. on METV. Basically, there is going to be a weekly hour long show featuring both HB & WB cartoons, and a 3 hour block reminiscent of what was shown on Saturday mornings. The show will be called "Toon In With ME." As I said, complete info. on AnimationMagazine.net.
Jerrydavis 41 months ago
Wow, for me to be around Ron Howard's age. I truly love his work. What a wonderful director and human spirit 👏
Lantern 41 months ago
You could have chosen a more flattering photo of Cheryl.
MrsPhilHarris Lantern 41 months ago
My thought exactly.
justjeff 41 months ago
He found his thrill on Blueberry Hill...
MrsPhilHarris 41 months ago
I wonder if they watched It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. 🤔
Hogansucks1 MrsPhilHarris 41 months ago
Maybe they were at the playground up front 😂
Hogansucks1 Hogansucks1 41 months ago
And the night after Halloween! Not a lot of room in a VW Bug !! 😙
daDoctah MrsPhilHarris 41 months ago
I'll bet Ron pointed out Don Knotts when he made his cameo appearance in that movie. "Hey, I know that guy!"
KMT6600 41 months ago
Happy 50th Wedding anniversary Cheryl & Ron
justjeff KMT6600 41 months ago
Polite correction: They've been married for 45 years, but have been together for 50.
Yes, it wasn't their 50th wedding anniversary, it was the 50th anniversary of their first date.
Hell, I'd be happy if a woman could put up with me for fifteen minutes!
texasluva 41 months ago
A story book life for both Ron and Cheryl. What more can you accomplish in life with so much happiness, love and understanding. Plus socks with each others faces on them
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